Perry Chen

Perry Chen is the creator and Chairman of Kickstarter, a funding platform for creative projects — everything from films, games, and music to art, design, and technology. Since its launch in April 2009, more than five million friends, fans, and inspired strangers have pledged more than $850 million to projects on Kickstarter, funding everything from homemade postcards to Oscar-winning documentaries. Perry grew up in New York City and lived in New Orleans for eight years, where he worked on music and had the idea for Kickstarter. He also co-founded Southfirst gallery in Brooklyn, New York, in 2001.